How are you guys? I mean seriously, how are you?
To be honest, I find myself sitting here feeling overwhelmed and slightly anxious for a plethora of different reasons. And it’s not because I’m watching Matthew Mcconaughey be extra awkward in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days or anything. Rather, I think I’m feeling a little chaotic because over the past few months life has gotten a little insane with work and now, our wedding.
Being overwhelmed and anxious is a tough issue to conquer — am I right? Being busy has kind of become the new norm for plenty of us, especially as a girl boss. So instead of me telling you how busy I am, I’ll confess what’s actually happening in my life lately:
1.) I’ve found that I haven’t really enjoyed wedding planning just yet (is that bad?) nor stayed on track with what I should probably be doing for that. Everyone tells you to enjoy planning, but it’s kinda stressful, no?At this point our wedding is 7 months away. I haven’t asked all of my bridesmaids yet. I haven’t gotten my dress. I haven’t sent out save the dates (but they are done!). However I have stared at Pinterest for more hours then I thought I could. I finally booked an appointment at a bridal shop in LA for the end of the month to check out some dresses. I went to BHLDN in Chicago but things just weren’t jiving with my soul. Do you have any suggestions for good bridal shops?
2.) Last week we shot 4 wellness videos over two days in partnership with Under Armour Women. The days were long, but the work was invigorating and I can’t wait to show you once I get them back. It was cool because I got to work with a former co-worker on the videos. I’m realizing that I really LOVE doing on-camera video work, which in turn makes me realize that it’s good to challenge myself to do projects I’m truly excited and in love with, even if it means being exhausted for a few days.
3.) My Grain Free Chocolate Chunk Cookies, Three Ways baking kit launched last week in partnership with Cake in a Crate. It would mean so much to me if you purchased one. I spent weeks perfecting the recipe and eating them so that you could make it a few different ways (cookies, skillet & blondies)!
4.) I’m trying to keep up with our Healthy Glow Co. #GlowGoodChallenge because frankly it’s just fun! If you haven’t done it yet, you can join us anytime! Read more about the challenge here and be sure to check out and follow our Instagram.
5.) I have been eating way too much food lately and not really watching what I’ve been eating. Most likely stress eating, or the fact that I’ve had to test 15 recipes over the past four days for the upcoming Healthy Glow Guide, which features ALL NEW never before seen recipes. Look, it happens to most of us and I know I need to get back to eating better but still, hopefully writing it holds me more accountable. I need to be good on Easter. But maybe I’ll just be naughty because LIFE is about enjoying yourself.
6.) It’s tax season and I had to go through all of my finances from last year. Apparently I didn’t pay enough into the government so now I have a big old tax bill. Fun times, especially when you are planning a big wedding. Also, note to self that a good accountant is everything. So glad I have one now.
7.) I literally tested recipes in my pajamas 3 days this week with no shame. Best kind of clothes to get chocolate on, right?
8.) I’m having some weird grief over my Dad not being able to walk me down the aisle. It keeps creeping up on me suddenly. Again, I think it could also be because I’m feeling a little overwhelmed and emotional.
9.) People are already asking when we are going to have kids. I just laugh, but the answer is… whenever we are blessed enough to have them!
10.) I saw Beauty and the Beast while I was hungover and it was in 3D. Frankly I thought I was going to be sick. But also, I didn’t really love the movie that much. Though Emma Watson will still forever be my favorite.
Through all of this stuff going on in my life, I’ve realized that the one thing keeping me grounded is Tony, watching The Americans (or just a TV show) and my morning workouts. I am thankful for those things. And wine. Lots and lots of wine.
P.S. Kate Hudson just appeared in that gorgeous yellow dress in the movie. I die.
Okay, so enough about all of my confessions, let’s do weekend favorites:
Biggest food trends for spring 2017. What do ya think?
I could live in this top, I swear.
On adult friendships. Shit, they’re hard and this article was a good read.
Potatoes for easter… that you can make in your slow cooker!
The swimsuit I’m seriously obsessing over!
Lemon poppyseed muffins… paleo and made with coconut flour.
Love this illustration on how to make homemade candles.
Gorgeous green matcha mint shake for all your mornings.
The best salad I’ve seen in quite sometime.
Just got this top and feeling sassy. I accidently purchased it twice (two different transactions).
The swimsuit I’m seriously obsessing over!
I hope you have the best Easter weekend! xoxo
Thanks for linking my salad recipe, Monique! Muah! 😘❤️
I’m probably not the best person to ask for wedding advice, since I had a pretty laid back, nontraditional wedding. Honestly, my best advice for wedding planning would be to plan a wedding you would actually enjoy, and disregard all the social norms/anxiety about pleasing people.
We didn’t even have an aisle at our wedding, just a semicircle of chairs around a big old oak tree. My guy and I walked in holding hands to Justin TImberlake’s “Can’t Stop the Feeling”, and guests went blueberry picking after the ceremony (we got married at a farm). I didn’t even buy a wedding gown- I just bought a dress online that I thought I would love, and did love, and it was less than $100. It still felt romantic/wedding-y, but wasn’t over the top. If you’re not enjoying wedding planning, my advice would be to plan a different wedding! It’s not worth all the stress.
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Made Simply Scrath’s “Roasted Beet Salad” for Easter dinner. Everyone love it!
I’m so glad Mary Beth! ❤️
#8 – yup – I’m nowhere close to getting married, but this sneaks up on me all of the time. My mom lost her dad before her own wedding as well, and I’m pretty sure I’ll have her walk me down the aisle (while sobbing, lets be honest) if I ever get married. It’s always a hard moment when I attend weddings as well – such a sudden pang of sadness during a lovely moment. Sending prayers your way during this overwhelming time!
I got engaged over a year ago and we still don’t have a date for our wedding. I started to plan and then the prices just scared me off and instead we quit our jobs and traveled for 3 months. I tried to convince my fiance to elope while we were in Australia, but failed. I think we spent less than the cost of the average wedding on our travels which I feel was more enjoyable being over 3-4 months instead of one day. Going to try to plan something small for 2018 I guess. I have the idea of colors and stuff I want, but I just can’t believe the costs. I’m looking forward to seeing some of those new recipes you have been creating. Have a fabulous weekend. Maybe you can get some time to relax.
I hear you with the wedding planning. It is so not my cup of tea, either! As someone who is promoting a healthy relationship with food, let’s not moralize eating! Restricting food should not be “good” and eating yummy dishes with loved ones should not be “naughty”. So many women look to you for inspiration and guidance. Let’s let food be food! Thanks for continuing to share your journey 🙂
Hillary, I really like that you pointed that out. There is so much healing in taking the guilt out of food. 🙂 One thing I am working on is recognizing that food is just food! Everything’s prescription for wellness is different. For me, health and balance is an approximate (not perfect, because no one is!!) mix of all of these things: eating clean, whole foods most of the time, eating most of the time because I’m hungry but sometimes also just because stuff sounds good and baking and cooking is really fun, moving my body as often as I can and not being tied to “workouts”/”cardio”–it can be walking!, resting and sleeping a good amount, drinking more water and less alcohol, watching caffeine, listening more and talking less, getting outside, letting things go because in the grand scheme most of it doesn’t matter, and reminding myself that my body intuitively knows what it needs/wants! I don’t need to outsmart my hunger signals or my cravings. When does that ever not backfire? Even people who train to get “cut” for their bodybuilding eventually binge when they are “allowed” to eat a less restrictive diet again. Food was created for us to enjoy, and when we let that be the guide, rather than a strict mantra of “food that isn’t on my ‘allowed list’ is going to make me gain weight”, it truly makes things much more relaxed. It’s very, very ironic, but so helpful and true.
So glad to hear someone else doesn’t like wedding planning either! We’re a month out from our wedding and frankly I’m over it. So ready to be done and have stress-free, free time again! I know it’s a little bit away from you but go to Gown Gallery in Kansas City if you can. They have an amazing selection at all price levels. Ask for Robin – she’s the best!
No potatoes on the potatoes link and I sure could use an easy side.
I’m so sorry about your dad. 🙁 I didn’t have my mom at my wedding and I felt that same grief come up at big moments, like trying on wedding dresses, getting into the dress the day of, etc etc.
I had the same situation happen last year with owing a big tax bill because of my blog. To not have that happen this year, every time I had a deposit made in my blog bank account, 30% automatically moved from my checking to my savings. Then at the end of every quarter, my husband paid that to the government. We actually ended up getting a little bit back this year as a result. Yay!!
Sarah Seven for wedding dresses 🙂
I’m right there with you on being overwhelmed and sort of having a general drowning feeling lately. Hoping some warmer weather will help to get me out of this jam!! Good luck 🙂
Alice in Ivory on Armitage in Lincoln Park! Lots of beautiful Katie May dresses! http://www.aliceinivory.com
In reference to #8, I will send you some good vibes. I’m currently estranged from my mother (sadly, it’s best for my mental health) and it hurts you in weird ways some times…like moving in with a serious boyfriend for the first time or for relationship advice. I can only imagine what it must feel like for you to know that there’s no way he can physically be there. I hope there’s a way you can incorporate him into your big day so you feel like his presence is with you…like putting an item of his in your bouquet so he can be “walking” with you down the aisle or something.
As a side note, I love how you share your emotions in a raw form. It’s so genuine and relate-able. 🙂
Agree with all of these ladies. Was thrilled to get married but I hated that it was my responsibility to plan the wedding and if I could have afforded it would gladly have outsourced it to a full planner. It is a total pain and distracting from the things you probably want to focus on – recipes, fitness, etc. Some people really do enjoy it but it was not for me — you are not alone!
I just got married a month ago and everything you are feeling is completely normal. Wedding planning sucked and is stressful and emotional. I am pretty thin and for the year and half up to the wedding (long engagement) I didn’t have to worry about what I ate and then boom the last two months before the wedding I gained ten pounds I think due to stress and sleep issues. ugh. feel you!
I am wedding planning right now too for my wedding in August, and I can’t tell you that it ever gets more fun…but it does get more exciting as things start to fall into place! Follow your gut and trust that it will all work out, because after all, you will marry Tony and everything else doesn’t really matter! Keeping in mind the whole point of a wedding has helped me shake off some of the stress of creating my “dream” day.
Hey Monique! there’s a really cute bridal shop that recently opened in Old Town called Lovely Bride. I live right across the street and every time I walk by I swoon over all of the dresses. A good friend of mine found her dress there recently and it’s beautiful. It’s also a very intimate setting, small shop by appointment only I’d say it’s worth checking out!
I second Lovely Bride! My friend had a great experience at the one in NYC.
honestly, i hatedddd planning my wedding, which i felt totally guilty for because everyone expects you to LOVE being a bride. i can totally relate…i didnt ask my maid of honor to be in the wedding until it was cutting it way close. the details & the expectations just weren’t for me. unintuitively, it helped us to kindly decline a lot of offers for advice/input/opinions & stay out of magazines/off pinterest, & just do it ourselves. we had a lot more fun when it was just us planning our day. hope you find some relaxation soon! xx
Honestly, wedding planning is not that fun! I guess it depends on the situation but it is stressful. I’m not sure how people “have fun with it”… because there is a lot of consider and a lot of people that want to be involved.
But stress this month is REAL. We just closed on our house so between that and work I am having some major skin flareups (psoriasis) and eating very poorly, so you’re not alone with that!
Hoping you get some rest and relaxation here soon! <3
Being overwhelmed is a symptom of success. With over 35 years in the design industry I have learned that being underwhelmed is harder to overcome. Keep up all the good work!-Laurel Bledsoe